Hire ‘Batteries Included’ People to Boost Company Energy

At UCAOA 2015, Dr. Don Dillahunty showed me an article that encouraged employers to hire people who come “with batteries included.” What great advice!

In our companies, we call this “Positive Energy,” and we have made it one of our four core values. Our core values at Practice Velocity describe how we behave:

Team Player

Positive Energy

Continuous Improvement

Clients Win

When it comes to positive energy, the world is divided into two types of people:

People who suck the energy out of teammates (no batteries included)

People who energize teammates (batteries included)

Why do you want team players who come with batteries included?

They are no-drama people. People who radiate energy to others won’t pull other people into gossip, backbiting, and other energy-sucking activities. A positive energy leader keeps everything confidential and won’t incite dissention by sharing salaries with other employees, complaining about bad employees, or sharing confidential information about staff salaries and garnishments. Instead, a person who comes with batteries included will squash rumors, encourage staff to discuss any salary concerns with management, and radiate positive energy to everyone on staff.

They take responsibility. Team players who come with batteries included respond well to feedback. They don’t play the blame game or make excuses.

They simply fix problems. A team player who comes with batteries included does not suck energy out of others by complaining about staff or management. They understand the adage that they should change what they can change and accept what they cannot change. They are just-fix-it kinds of people.

They are self-starters. They are like the Energizer Bunny. You don’t need to tell them to hit the on switch, insert batteries, or recharge. Simply point them in the right direction, and they will get the job done—whatever it takes. No one needs to tell a staffer who comes with batteries included to “get to work” or “focus on what’s important.”

They energize the rest of the team. Positive energy people don’t just get the job done. They encourage others. They remember birthdays. They fill in when someone else on the team is struggling. When they show up at the team standup meeting each morning, everyone’s emotional battery gets a little recharge. That battery recharge means that everyone else on the team feels better and gets more done that day.

Simply put, energy in our companies is defined as how I make other people feel. So the next time your team interviews a candidate, ask yourselves, “How did that person make me feel?” If you felt emotionally drained, the candidate does not come with batteries included. Take a pass. If everyone felt emotionally lifted, the candidate comes with batteries included. That’s someone that will energize the team. Maybe that candidate is just the Energizer Bunny you need for your team.